Re: 12 Volt Generator Followup!

Posted by John T Electrical Engineer on February 07, 1999 at 18:00:37:

In Reply to: 12 Volt Generator Followup! posted by Bill {Antique Acres} on February 06, 1999 at 21:21:29:

Hi there Antique Bill, Your question is right becauase regardless if you find a 6 volt or 12 volt generator, sticking a 12 volt regulator on it will make it charge a 12 volt battery. Ive done several and they all still work. The only difference is that the regulator must be for the type generator i.e., shunt wound or series wound. The GM Delco types need a GM regulator and Ford Autolite types need a Ford regulator. When you wrap wire around a piece of iron and pass current throught it, it creates an electromagnetic field (your field windings) and the more current the more field strength, and the faster RPM's you pass that armature through that field, the more voltage induced into its windings. The regulator just limits that field current by shutting it off (voltage regulator portion) or adding series resistance in series with it (current regulator portion). Therefore, using the right regulator you, as Gerald correctly pointed out, can make it charge 6 or 12 volts without having to change any armatures or field coils etc. Moral of story, buy any good old generator (6 or 12) and using the 12 volt regulator, you're in business. PS Dont forget to change any bulbs and add a ballast resistor in series with coil if you do go from 6 to 12 volts. John T Retired Electrical Engineer. Hope to see you at a show this summer in Southern Indiana.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup